YEREVAN HOPES SOBER THINKING WILL TRIUMPH IN TURKEY, ARMENIAN FM STATES
news.am
March 18 2010
Armenia
Turkish Premier Recep Erdogan’s statement on the expulsion of Armenians
from Turkey evoked a violent public response both in Armenia and in
Turkey, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated at a conference
in Yerevan.
People are surprised at a top-ranking official making such a
statement. But, unfortunately, it is not for the first time that
Turkish representatives have made such a statement. It is similar
statements that provoked the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey,
Armenian massacres in Baku, Sumgait, Kirovabad in Azerbaijan, Minister
Nalbandian said.
Statements like that are detrimental to the Armenian-Turkish
normalization process, but Yerevan hopes sober thinking will triumph
in Turkey and that state will listen to the international community’s
demand for normalizing relations with Armenia without any threats,
blackmail or preconditions.
"Armenia took the initiative to normalize relations with Turkey.
Despite all the difficulties we progressed and signed the protocols.
We are ready to move forward, but it depends on Turkey. Time will
show," Nalbandian said.